What is Somerville
@whatissomerville.bsky.social
What's happening and what's interesting in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Between the Somerville Media Center and the Somerville Beacon, HOW could they not have someone to make this flyer without AI lol
October 16, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Between the Somerville Media Center and the Somerville Beacon, HOW could they not have someone to make this flyer without AI lol
No love for the middle on this issue, eh?
(Cambridge residents want no buildings in their city)
(Cambridge residents want no buildings in their city)
October 15, 2025 at 9:55 PM
No love for the middle on this issue, eh?
(Cambridge residents want no buildings in their city)
(Cambridge residents want no buildings in their city)
Native pollinator garden?
September 17, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Native pollinator garden?
It's plain to see when looking back at prior years. Where the City used to announce things, "Mayor Ballantyne" now does.
The Ballantyne team is obviously trying to present activity and 'happenings' on their behalf.
I doubt we'll be hearing many updates from individual departments anytime soon.
The Ballantyne team is obviously trying to present activity and 'happenings' on their behalf.
I doubt we'll be hearing many updates from individual departments anytime soon.
August 21, 2025 at 9:05 PM
It's plain to see when looking back at prior years. Where the City used to announce things, "Mayor Ballantyne" now does.
The Ballantyne team is obviously trying to present activity and 'happenings' on their behalf.
I doubt we'll be hearing many updates from individual departments anytime soon.
The Ballantyne team is obviously trying to present activity and 'happenings' on their behalf.
I doubt we'll be hearing many updates from individual departments anytime soon.
And, after all that (misplaced) effort to make these responses look distinct, someone just GAVE UP and submitted the exact same language on Question #11.
12/?
12/?
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
And, after all that (misplaced) effort to make these responses look distinct, someone just GAVE UP and submitted the exact same language on Question #11.
12/?
12/?
And continues...
11/?
11/?
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
And continues...
11/?
11/?
And continues...
(Love the use of dashes in Ballantyne's income-eligible tenant vs Sait's income eligible tenant)
10/?
(Love the use of dashes in Ballantyne's income-eligible tenant vs Sait's income eligible tenant)
10/?
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
And continues...
(Love the use of dashes in Ballantyne's income-eligible tenant vs Sait's income eligible tenant)
10/?
(Love the use of dashes in Ballantyne's income-eligible tenant vs Sait's income eligible tenant)
10/?
Elsewhere, the trend continues.
Clearly, whoever was working on this language had the thought to diversify the word choice a little so as to... paint a picture that these weren't the same responses?
This is mean, so apologies in advance, but they didn't do a very good job. At all.
9/?
Clearly, whoever was working on this language had the thought to diversify the word choice a little so as to... paint a picture that these weren't the same responses?
This is mean, so apologies in advance, but they didn't do a very good job. At all.
9/?
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Elsewhere, the trend continues.
Clearly, whoever was working on this language had the thought to diversify the word choice a little so as to... paint a picture that these weren't the same responses?
This is mean, so apologies in advance, but they didn't do a very good job. At all.
9/?
Clearly, whoever was working on this language had the thought to diversify the word choice a little so as to... paint a picture that these weren't the same responses?
This is mean, so apologies in advance, but they didn't do a very good job. At all.
9/?
These are pretty different. But not really.
In the context of this thread, amidst all the near-identical and identical language, these are also obviously written by the same person.
8/?
In the context of this thread, amidst all the near-identical and identical language, these are also obviously written by the same person.
8/?
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
These are pretty different. But not really.
In the context of this thread, amidst all the near-identical and identical language, these are also obviously written by the same person.
8/?
In the context of this thread, amidst all the near-identical and identical language, these are also obviously written by the same person.
8/?
Didn't take long - we're still on Question #2 - before I came across another example.
As a reminder, you've got Ballantyne on the left and Sait on the right.
6/?
As a reminder, you've got Ballantyne on the left and Sait on the right.
6/?
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Didn't take long - we're still on Question #2 - before I came across another example.
As a reminder, you've got Ballantyne on the left and Sait on the right.
6/?
As a reminder, you've got Ballantyne on the left and Sait on the right.
6/?
In looking initially, I came across the first similar passage. Question #2.
On your left, Ballantyne's response. On your right, Sait's response.
4/?
On your left, Ballantyne's response. On your right, Sait's response.
4/?
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
In looking initially, I came across the first similar passage. Question #2.
On your left, Ballantyne's response. On your right, Sait's response.
4/?
On your left, Ballantyne's response. On your right, Sait's response.
4/?
This note from @somervilleyimby.org explained that the Ballantyne campaign both a) responded to the city council questionnaire (lol?) and b) had some near-identical or identical answers to another candidate running for city council, Naima Sait.
And the Ballantyne campaign *doubled down* on it.
2/?
And the Ballantyne campaign *doubled down* on it.
2/?
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This note from @somervilleyimby.org explained that the Ballantyne campaign both a) responded to the city council questionnaire (lol?) and b) had some near-identical or identical answers to another candidate running for city council, Naima Sait.
And the Ballantyne campaign *doubled down* on it.
2/?
And the Ballantyne campaign *doubled down* on it.
2/?
Taking notes on Cambridge’s LED park installments
August 9, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Taking notes on Cambridge’s LED park installments
Having a good time on the community path tonight
July 31, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Having a good time on the community path tonight
The homeownership example is but one of many at this point. By the looks of it, this is a recent change - perhaps something from within the past few weeks.
Even going back a few months, the tone of press releases and the subject of press release titles differ.
Even going back a few months, the tone of press releases and the subject of press release titles differ.
July 29, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The homeownership example is but one of many at this point. By the looks of it, this is a recent change - perhaps something from within the past few weeks.
Even going back a few months, the tone of press releases and the subject of press release titles differ.
Even going back a few months, the tone of press releases and the subject of press release titles differ.
But this wasn't always how the city titled press releases. Not even in recent memory.
Searching for the same style of press releases - those announcing homeownership opportunities - you can see that the Ballantyne admin has changed how they instruct city staff to title communications.
Searching for the same style of press releases - those announcing homeownership opportunities - you can see that the Ballantyne admin has changed how they instruct city staff to title communications.
July 29, 2025 at 9:24 PM
But this wasn't always how the city titled press releases. Not even in recent memory.
Searching for the same style of press releases - those announcing homeownership opportunities - you can see that the Ballantyne admin has changed how they instruct city staff to title communications.
Searching for the same style of press releases - those announcing homeownership opportunities - you can see that the Ballantyne admin has changed how they instruct city staff to title communications.
Take one of the most recent press releases from the city, for example.
Pretty standard: the Ballantyne admin is sharing homeownership opportunities on Norfolk St.
Pretty standard: the Ballantyne admin is sharing homeownership opportunities on Norfolk St.
July 29, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Take one of the most recent press releases from the city, for example.
Pretty standard: the Ballantyne admin is sharing homeownership opportunities on Norfolk St.
Pretty standard: the Ballantyne admin is sharing homeownership opportunities on Norfolk St.
Streets are for feets 👍
July 17, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Streets are for feets 👍
Flowers from Ricky’s ➡️ Bloc Patio
July 12, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Flowers from Ricky’s ➡️ Bloc Patio
That is NOT to say they can’t look better. They look good (enough).
We’re a far cry from peak Tube and Underground adverts 😭
We’re a far cry from peak Tube and Underground adverts 😭
July 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
That is NOT to say they can’t look better. They look good (enough).
We’re a far cry from peak Tube and Underground adverts 😭
We’re a far cry from peak Tube and Underground adverts 😭
Shoutout to some of the new advertisements from the T on the @mbta.com.
They look good (enough), read well and* accessibly, and promote good (enough) messages.
Most of all, better to have things like these than blank advertising slots, whether on cars, in stations, or wherever.
They look good (enough), read well and* accessibly, and promote good (enough) messages.
Most of all, better to have things like these than blank advertising slots, whether on cars, in stations, or wherever.
July 8, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Shoutout to some of the new advertisements from the T on the @mbta.com.
They look good (enough), read well and* accessibly, and promote good (enough) messages.
Most of all, better to have things like these than blank advertising slots, whether on cars, in stations, or wherever.
They look good (enough), read well and* accessibly, and promote good (enough) messages.
Most of all, better to have things like these than blank advertising slots, whether on cars, in stations, or wherever.
Country that once made winning WWII its whole personality has memory holed its own WWII concentration camps and more news at 5
July 2, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Country that once made winning WWII its whole personality has memory holed its own WWII concentration camps and more news at 5
Only tangentially related, but I’m always aghast to hear the way many of my peers friends n coworkers in Somerville, Cambridge, Boston metro generally talk about having a family
Made me think of this tweet
Made me think of this tweet
June 11, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Only tangentially related, but I’m always aghast to hear the way many of my peers friends n coworkers in Somerville, Cambridge, Boston metro generally talk about having a family
Made me think of this tweet
Made me think of this tweet